Reanm8er
Bronze Member
- Aug 17, 2018
- 2,283
- 3,556
- Detector(s) used
- WW2 Mine Detector, 2 Garrets and an Underwater Fisher (Older Machines)
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
Howdy Friends, I'm so glad I've found this website because it's helping me relieve nearly seventy years of "Information Constipation" (figure of speech). Just being able to tell 60 yr old stories to those who are interested is terrific therapy for my dinosaur carcass. I've spent my whole life walking around looking at the ground and have found some amazing things and observed some amazing practices.
One such practice is the ability to ID gold reliably without a loupe, acid test or other visual enhancements. Once while hunting my fave flea market I came upon an individual of obvious Eastern descent. I thought it wise to observe this individual, because he was obviously looking for gold as was I. I've always had a gift from somewhere that allowed me to interview strangers by just being polite and displaying genuine interest in their actions.
This man was walking along in a row where I'd recovered many, many ounces of damaged gold jewelry. He was picking up pieces of jewelry and after looking them over would smell his fingers. No loupe, no magnification and no cellphone contact to verify his conclusions. So, I ventured to ask him about his method of identification. He chuckled aloud and offered a sheepish grin and said "I don't need to see markings because they're not often accurate and I have a better method.
He explained that by rubbing a piece of genuine gold, he can confirm that by rubbing it and then smelling for the odor of brass on his fingers, he can discern base metal. Makes sense. I tried it and as long as you clean your fingers between tests you'll get the smell. He didn't clean his fingers but then he was equipped with better olfactory equipment than I and his had not been burned out by years of pipe welding.
Finger some plated items in your collection and see if you don't smell it. Of course it won't reveal silver over pewter but the weight and softness will show that.
One such practice is the ability to ID gold reliably without a loupe, acid test or other visual enhancements. Once while hunting my fave flea market I came upon an individual of obvious Eastern descent. I thought it wise to observe this individual, because he was obviously looking for gold as was I. I've always had a gift from somewhere that allowed me to interview strangers by just being polite and displaying genuine interest in their actions.
This man was walking along in a row where I'd recovered many, many ounces of damaged gold jewelry. He was picking up pieces of jewelry and after looking them over would smell his fingers. No loupe, no magnification and no cellphone contact to verify his conclusions. So, I ventured to ask him about his method of identification. He chuckled aloud and offered a sheepish grin and said "I don't need to see markings because they're not often accurate and I have a better method.
He explained that by rubbing a piece of genuine gold, he can confirm that by rubbing it and then smelling for the odor of brass on his fingers, he can discern base metal. Makes sense. I tried it and as long as you clean your fingers between tests you'll get the smell. He didn't clean his fingers but then he was equipped with better olfactory equipment than I and his had not been burned out by years of pipe welding.
Finger some plated items in your collection and see if you don't smell it. Of course it won't reveal silver over pewter but the weight and softness will show that.
